Call register



G. KINER CALL REGISTER March 5, 1940.

Filed March 22, 1934 SECOND R as ls'rsze Id 2 d nuEn c311; Bier-1nKIFIE'IT F1 UFT'ZE' Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECALL REGISTER Glenn Kiner, Park Ridge, 111., assignor to KelloggSwitchboard and Supply Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of IllinoisMy invention relates to a messenger call system such as usedparticularly to summon a messenger from a telegraph ofiice. Such asystem usually comprises a central oifice which is the focal point 5'for a number of lines extending to the ofiices of customers who havesubscribed to the service.

Some means, such as a switch or key, is provided at the customers ofiicewhich, when operated,

registers the call at the central oifice where it 10 is not-ed by anattendant who dispatches a messenger to the calling customer. Theidentity of the calling subscriber is ascertained by the registration ofa particular code of dots and dashes which is printed upon a paper tape.

it My invention obviates the use of the paper tape and the inking andprinting arrangement necessary in such a system, which is always asource of trouble and inconvenience, by providing a register consistingof a plurality of num- 20 bered disks adapted: to be independentlyrotated to present the number of the calling subscriber.

A second register is provided to permit the indication of a second callprior to the disposition of the first call. 25 A feature of my inventionis the provision of novel means for registering a call.

Another feature is the provision of novel means for releasing theapparatus used.

A further feature is the provision of novel means for transferring acall to a second register if it is made prior to the disposition of thefirst call.

A still further feature is the provision of suitable means for notifyingthe attendant that a call is being made.

Other features will be apparent upon a further perusal of thespecification and together with the features pointed out, will beexplained fully hereinafter, reference being had to the accompany- 40ing drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows the circuit arrangement of my call circuit system;

Fig. 2 shows the arrangement of the mechanical details of a portion ofmy register in a cabinet,

45- and Fig. 3 shows the front view of the cabinet.

My call circuit register comprises a plurality of the indicatorscomprising numbered wheels id, id and 3d, having a blank space and, the

50 numerals l to marked on their peripheral edge as shown in Fig. 3.Each of the indicator wheels is controlled by an electromagnet IR, 2B.and 3R, respectively, thru means of armatures H], H and 52 which engagetoothed disks i3, i4 and I5 55 rigidly secured to the wheels Id, 20! and3d. Eachtime the electromagnet IR is energized the armature ii! isattracted and rotates the toothed disk i3 one step to cause the nextnumeral on the periphery of the wheel to appear before a slot or windowIt in a cabinet ll within which the ap- 5 paratus is enclosed to displaythe number of the calling subscriber. A spring 28 yieldingly holds thearmature it! in its retracted position and the end to of the armature isnormally disengaged from the teeth of disk t3. The electromagnets 2E and3H and their armatures H and I2 are of similar construction. As thetoothed disk 13 and numeral indicator wheel Id are rotated a springifl'securedto the disk l3 and its supporting shaft iswound up and tendsto restore the 15' disks to their normal positions in which the blankspace appearsbefore the window It). The operation of disk 2d and itsassociated toothed disk It is controlled by electromagnet 2R thruarmature H and the disks 3d and I5 are controlled by electromagnet 3Rthru armature t2. Springs similar to EB-tend to restore the disks 2d and3d totheir normal position but pawls I9, 20 and 2| rigidly secured to arotatable shaft 23 respectively engage the toothed disks l3, l4 and I5and prevent this restoration. A button 24 is attached to a shaft 25whichslides thru an orifice in the front wall ll of the cabinet and engagesan extension 25 of the pawl IS. A spring 22 surrounds the shaft 25 andnormally holds the button 24 away from the wall ll; When pressure isapplied to the button 24 the shaft 25 moves the extension 28- androtates the shaft 23 which is secured in the support 21. The rotation ofthe shaft 23 causes the pawls i9, 20 and 2! to disengage the tooth ofdisks l3, l4 and I5 with which it is associated at the time and thedisks id, 2d and 3d are restored to their normal position under theinfluence of the coil springs E8.

The transmitter T located at the subscribers office which is operated byhim to call a messenger is shown on the drawing as a code impulse wheel"H which is provided with groups of conducting teeth for impartinggroups of current impulses to the line by connecting the same to ground,but may comprise any well known device such as a telephone dial or thepresent call circuit switch which alternately makes and breaks anenergizing circuit in a predetermined manner.

The operation of the call circuit system of my cause ground to beconnected to conductor 29 in a predetermined code. For instance, if thesubscribers number is I23 the operation of the switch will ground theconductor in the following manner: once, pause, twice, pause, thrice,pause. The initial grounding of conductor 29 causes the energization ofline relay LR and holding relay HR at the central ofiice by currentflowing from battery thru the winding of HR to conductor 29 and frombattery thru the winding of relay LR to conductor 29 to ground at thesubscribers switch. The energization of line relay LR causes it toattract armature 30 to engage a spring 3| to close an energizing circuitfor electromagnet IR which is energized by current flowing from battery,thru the winding of electromagnet IR, normally closed contact 32 of ISW,thru closed contacts 39 and M to ground. The elect'romagnet IR attractsits armature ID and the pawl I90 engages the toothed disk I3 and movesthe disk I3 and number wheel Id one step to place the numeral I in thewindow I3.

The movement of disk Id off normal permits spring contact 33 to engageits associated contact 33a to prepare an energizing circuit forswitching relay ISW. Holding relay HR energized as before described and.opened its normally closed contact 34 to prevent the premature operationof switching relay ISW.

Due to the construction of line relay LR and holding relay HR the linerelay LR energizes and deenergizes each time conductor 29 is grounded atthe subscriber's ofiice but the holding relay HR is slow to release andtherefore energizes and deenergizes once during the registration of eachdigit. Therefore during the pause between the dialing of the first andsecond digits the holding relay HR deenergizes and the closure of itsnormal contact 34 establishes an energizing circuit for the switchingrelay ISW which is energized by current flowing from battery, thru thewinding of relay ISW, normally closed contact 35, conductor 33,alternate contact 33, normal contact 34 of HR to ground. Switching relayISW energizes and attracts its armatures 32, 31 and 38. Contact 32 inits alternate position switches the indicator conductor RC to the nextregister electromagnet 2R and disconnects the first indicatorelectromagnet IR from the register conductor RC to prevent furtheroperation thereof. The closure of make-before-break contact 3!establishes a locking circuit for switching relay ISW which remainsenergized by current flowing from battery, thru the winding of relayISW, alternate contact 31, looking conductor LC, normally closedcontacts 49 and M to ground.

The registration of the second digit is effected by the switch at thesubscribers office placing ground on conductor 29 two times. As soon asground is applied to conductor 29 relays LR and HR energize overcircuits previously traced and relay LR closes contacts 30 and 3| toground the register conductor RC and complete an'energizing circuit forthe second digit indicator electromagnet 2R, which is energized bycurrent flowing from battery thru the winding of 2R, normal contact 39of ZSW, conductor I49, alternate contact 32 of ISW, conductor RC, closedcontacts 39 and 3| to ground. Electromagnet 2R attracts its armature IIto move disks I4 and 2d one step in which position it is held by thepawl 20.

Each interruption of the line 29, at the subscribersstation, causesrelay LR torelease which in turn interrupts the circuit of steppingmagnet 2R, causing it to release.

The second placing of ground on conductor 29 again energizes relay LRwhich in turn causes the energization of electromagnet 2R by completingthe previously described circuit. Electromagnet 2R again attracts itsarmature II which moves disks I 4 and 2d the second time to cause thenumeral 2 on the periphery of the second digit disk 2d to appear beforethe window I6. Relay LR and electromagnet 2R again deenergize andrestore their armatures to normal. After a suitable time holding relayHR also deenergizes and closes its normal contact 34 to complete anenergizing circuit for switching relay ZSW. Relay ZSW is energized bycurrent flowing from battery, thru the winding of 2SW, normal contactI4I, off-normal closed contacts 42 and 42a, which closed on the firstoff-normal movement of disk 2d, alternate contact 38 of ISW, closedcontacts 33a and 33, and normal contact 34 of HR. Relay ZSW closes alocking circuit for itself through its make-before-break contacts MI and43 and locking conductor LC to ground at contact 4| and switches theregister conductor RC to the next indicator magnet by closing alternatecontact 39.

In the registration of the third digit the conductor 29 is groundedthree times by the subscribers switch. Upon the first grounding the linerelay LR and holding relay HR energize as before described. Theenergization of LR completes an energizing circuit for the third digitindicator electromagnet 3R which may be traced from battery, thru thewinding of magnet 3R, normal contact 45 of 35W, alternate contacts 39 ofW and 32 of ISW to ground thru contacts and 3i of LR. The third digitdisk 3d is moved one step by the armature I2 and the oiT-normal contacts46 and 46a are closed. The circuits for LR and 3R are interrupted andboth deenergize but immediately reenergize to move the disk 3d a secondstep. The third time the conductor 29 is grounded relay LR and magnet 3Renergize for the third time to move the disk 3d another step in whichposition the number 3 on the periphery of 3d appears in the window IS.The holding relay HR has remained energized during this period but afterthe relay LR has deenergized the last time the relay HR deenergizes andcloses normal contact 34 thereby completing an energizing circuit forthe third switching relay W which is operated by current flowing frombattery thru the winding of relay 3SW, closed contact 41, closedcontacts 46 and 46a, alternate contact 44 of 2SW, closed contacts. 42and 42a, alternate contact 38 of ISW, closed contacts 330. and 33 andnormal contact 34 of HR to ground. Relay 3SW closes a locking circuitfor itself thru its contacts 41 and 48 and locking conductor LC toground at contact M. An audible or visible register signal shown as alamp RS is actuated over an obvious circuit when theswitching relay 3SWis energized and serves to inform the attendant that a call has beenregistered. The number I23 appearing in the window It is the number ofthe calling subscriber and the attendant can immediately assign amessenger to respond to the call.

After noting the registered call the attendant pushes the release button24 which causes the rotation of shaft 23 to release the pawls I9, 20 and2I from the teeth of disks id, 2d and 3d which disks restore to normalunder the influence of the coil springs I8, the off-normal contacts 33,42, and 46 being againopened when the disks reach their normalpositions. A stud'49 secured to the end 26 of pawl l9 engages the end ofcontact spring t6 and when the button 24 is operated the spring ill isseparated vfrom spring 41 and the locking circuit for the switchingrelays lSW, 223W and SSW is opened and these relays deenergize. Thedeenergization of relay 38W causes the restoration of the registersignal RS and the entire register call system is at normal and ready foranother call. It will be noted that the operation .of the release keyopens the holding circuit of the relays and also-permits the restorationof the mechanical parts of the system.

If a second call is made previous to the actuation of the release button24 by the attendant it will be registered on the second register. Thissecond register is shown in the drawing only as a rectangle markedSecond registerfbut which is understood to contain similar apparatus andcircuits as that disclosed previously. The relays ISW, 28W and3SW arelocked in their energized positions and the contacts 32, 3E! and 45 arein their alternate positions and extend the register conductor RC thruto the line relay and holding relay of the second register which -peratein the same manner as relays LR and HR in the first register to operatethe digit indicator electromagnets and the switching relays in thesecond register. In such a case the conductor extending from contact 45to the rectangle marked Second register acts as the conductor 29 in thefirst register. As the code transmitter at the second calling stationconnects the conductor 28 to ground, the relays LR and HR. opcrate aspreviously explained. The relay LR at contact 30 grounds the registerconductor BC to cause the operation of the line relay and holding relayof the second register which in turn establish energizing circuits forthe indicating relays of the second register which operate to rotate thenumbered wheels to display the proper signal. A second register signalSRS is operated by current flowing 'from cattery thru signal SRS,alternate contacts :45, 35 and 32, conductor RC, closed. contacts 30 andH to ground. This signal SRS informs the attendant that a second call isbeing registered and when the same is completed the register signalcorresponding to RS of the second register will be operated to show thecompletion of the registration of the call and the attendant will notethe same and then push the buttons 24 on each register to release bothregisters and restore the same to normal.

Should the second call be made before the registration of the first iscompleted neither call will be properly registered. The release of thefirst register by the attendant before the complete registration of thesecond call will prevent the proper registration of the second call sothe attendant does not release the first register when he notices theoperation of the second register signal SR until the second callregistration is completed. For these reasons the same procedure by thecalling subscriber will be necessary to register calls on my callregister device as is now in vogue on the presently used apparatus;namely the twice or thrice repeated operation of his call key or switchat intervals of a minute or thereabouts. Commercial use has proven thatall the calls will be properly registered if such a procedure isfollowed.

Additional registers may be added to the systern as the number ofincoming calls necessitates by adding additional units in the samemanner as thesecond register shown is connected to the first registershown.

While I have described my invention in certain particular embodiments, Idesire that it be understood that modifications and alterations may bemade and-that I intend no limitations upon my invention other than thoseimposed by the scope of thelappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimas new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

'1. A messenger call system including a central ofiic-e,subscribersstations, an electrical condoctor extending between saidoilice and said stations, a source of current at said ofitce, a linerelay and a holding relay each having its respective winding connectedto said source of current and to said electrical conductor, said relaysbeing energized by current flowing over said conductor and controlledfrom said subscribers station, an electromagnet, an energizing circuittherefor controlled by said line relay, an indicator, means foroperating said indicator controlled by said electromagnet, operatingcontacts for said line relay, a normally closed contact for said holdingrelay, a second conductor extending from a contact of said'line relay tosaid electromagnet, a second electromagnet, a switching relay havingnormal and alternate contacts, an energizing circuit for said relayincluding said source of current, the normal contacts of said holdingrelay completing the energizing circuit for said switching relay tooperate the said switching relay, said switching relay closing itsalternate contacts to extend said second conductor to saidsecondelectromagnet.

2. A messenger call system including a central-office, subscribersstations, an electrical conductor extending between said oflice and saidstations, at source of current at said ofiice, a line relay havingoperating contacts, a holding relay having-anormally closed contact-saidrelays adapted to be energized by current flowing over said conductorand controlled from said subscribers stations, :2. first digitelectromagnet, a second .digit electromagnet, an energizing circuit forsaid first digit electrjomagnet con-trolled by said line relay, a firstdigit indicator, means controlled by said first digit electromagnet foroperating said indicator, a second conductor extending from a contact ofsaid line relay to said first digit electromagnet, a switching relayhaving normal contacts, an energizingcircuit for said relay includingsaid source of current, the normal contacts of said holding relaycompleting the energizing circuit of said switching relay to operate thesaid relay whereby its alternate contacts extend said second conductorto the second digit electromagnet, a third digit electromagnet, a seconddigit indicator, means controlled by said second digit electromagnet foroperating said indicator, a second switching relay having an energizingwinding and alternate contacts for extending said second conductor tosaid third digit electromagnet.

3. A messenger call system including a central oifice, subscribersstations, an electrical conductor extending between said oifice and saidstations, a source of current at said ofiice, a line relay havingoperating contacts, a holding relay having a normal contact and each ofsaid relays having an energizing winding associated with said source ofcurrent, means at said stations associated with said conductorcompleting a circuit for said windings whereby said relays are energizedby current flowing over said conductor, a register unit comprising afirst digit electromagnet, a second digit electromagnet, an energizingcircuit therefor controlled by said line relay, a first digit indicator,means controlled by said first digit electromagnet to operate saidindicator, a second conductor extending from a contact of said linerelay to said first digit electromagnet, a switching relay having anenergizing circuit, a contact for said relay connected to said secondconductor, the normal contacts of said holding relay completing saidcircuit to cause said contact to extend said second conductor to thesecond digit electromagnet, a second digit indicator, means: controlledby said second digit electromagnet for operating said second digitindicator, a third digit electromagnet, a second switching relay havinga contact connected to said second conductor and movable to extend saidsecond conductor to said third digit electromagnet, a third digitindicator, means controlled by said third digit electromagnet foroperating said third digit indicator, means for maintaining saidindicators in their operated positions, a second register unit, a thirdswitching relay having a contact connected to said second conductor andmovable for extending said second conductor to said second registerunit, locking circuits for said switching relays, releasing means forsaid indicators and said switching relays.

4. A messenger call system including a central ofiice, a subscribersstation, an electrical conductor extending between said office and saidstation, a source of current at said omce, a line relay and a holdingrelay, an energizing winding for each of said relays associated withsaid conductor, a contact at said subscriber's station for groundingsaid conductor and thereby completing a circuit for said windings whichare energized by current flowing from said source of current over saidconductor, an electromagnet, an energizing circuit therefor controlledby said line relay, an indicator, means controlled by said electromagnetfor operating said indicator, a second conductor extending from saidline relay to said electromagnet, a second electromagnet, a switchingrelay having contacts movable upon the energization of said relay toswitch said second conductor from the said electromagnet to said secondelectromagnet, a holding circuit for said switching relay, means formaintaining said indicator in its operated position, and a singleactuating means for breaking said holding circuit and rendering saidmaintaining means inoperative.

5. A call register system including a central office, a plurality ofsubscribers stations, an elec trical conductor extending between saidoifice and a plurality of said stations, transmitting =means at saidstations, register means at said oflice including a plurality ofindicators, a plurality of electromagnets, one for each of said indicators and connections between the electromagnets and the indicatorsto operate the indicators each time the associated electromagnet isenergized said electromagnets being responsive to the operation of anyof said transmitting means'to operate said indicators to indicate whichparticular transmitting means were operated, other register means, andswitchingmeans including relays, contacts therefor and electricalconnections rendering said other register means con-- temporaneouslyresponsive to the subsequent operation of any transmitting means on saidconductor operated after. the complete registration of the first call tocontemporaneously indicate which signaling means were secondly operated.

6. A call register system including a central office, subscribersstations associated therewith by means of a single conductor, eachprovided with an identifying number, transmitting means at saidstations, and means at said ofiice including a plurality of indicators,a plurality of electromagnets, one for each of said indicators andconnections between the electromagnets and the indicators to operate theindicators each time the associated electromagnet is energized, saidelectromagnets being responsive to said transmitting means to operatesaid indicators to register the number of a calling station, otherregistering means at said ofiice, and switching means including relays,contacts therefor, and electrical connections rendering said otherregistering means contemporaneously responsive to said transmittingmeans in association with said single conductor for contemporaneouslyregistering the numbers of successive calls initiated after the completeregistration of the preceding call calling stations.

7. A call register system including a central office, subscribersstations, a single conductor connecting said office and said stations,signaling means at said stations for calling said office, a registerunit at said ofiice for indicating the calling station, said unitincluding a plurality of indicators, a plurality of electromagnets, onefor each of said indicators and connections between the electromagnetsand indicators to operate the indicators each time the associatedelectromagnet is energized, said electromagnets being responsive to theoperation of the signaling means, and a second register unit forcontemporaneously indicating a second call initiated after thecompletion of the registration of the first call.

8. A call register system including a central olfice, subscribersstations, a single conductor connecting said oflice and said stations,signaling means at said stations for calling said office, a registerunit at said ofiice for indicating the calling station, said unitincluding a plurality of indicators, a plurality of electromagnets, onefor each of said indicators and connections between the electromagnetsand indicators to operate the indicators each time the associatedelectromagnet is energized, said electromagnets being responsive to theoperation of the signaling means, supervisory means at said ofiiceindicating the registration of a call, and a second register unit forcontemporaneously indicating a contemporaneous call from a station onsaid same conductor initiated after the registration of the first calland supervisory means for indicating the inception of said second call.

9. A call register system including a central office, subscribersstations, a single conductor connecting said ofiice and said stations,signaling means at said stations for calling said ofiice, a registerunit at said ofiice for indicating the calling station, said unitincluding a plurality of indicators, a plurality of electromagnets, onefor each of said indicators and connections between the electromagnetsand indicators to operate the indicators each time the associatedelectromagnet is energized, said electromagnets being responsive to theoperation of the signaling means, and supervisory means at said ofiiceindicating the registration of a call, a second register unit forindicating a contemporaneous second call from a station on said sameconductor initiated after the complete registration of the first calland supervisory means for indicating the inception of saidcontemporaneous second call, and other supervisory means indicating thecompletion of said contemporaneous second call.

10. An annunciator system comprising a line, two relays each having oneof its terminals connected to the line and the other terminal connectedto the ungrounded terminal of a grounded source of current, one of saidrelays being slow to release whereby both relays will be operated uponeach grounding of the line and the slow relay will not release duringshort intervals between successive groundings, an indicating unitcomprising a plurality of numeral indicating disks, a stepping magnetand off-normal contacts for each disk, a circuit path completed on eachenergization of the fast release relay, said path initially completed tothe stepping magnet of the first disk, a plurality of switching relaysone for each succeeding stepping magnet for switching said circuit pathsuccessively to the stepping magnets, means for energizing the firstswitching relay through a circuit including the back contact of the slowrelease relay and the off-normal contacts of the first disk and its ownback contact and for energizing each succeeding relay through the backcontact of the slow release relay, the off-normal contacts of all thepreceding disks in series, the operated contacts of all the precedingtransfer relays in series and its own back contact, means for lockingeach transfer relay and means for completing the said circuit path foreach stepping magnet except the first through the front contacts of thepreceding switching relays, and the back contact of the correspondingswitching relay.

11. An annunciator system comprising a line, two relays each connectedto the line and to a source of current, one of said relays being slow torelease, both relays operating upon each grounding of the line and theslow relay holding over during short intervals between successivegroundings, an indicating unit comprising a plurality of indicatingdisks, a stepping magnet for each disk, a circuit path completed on eachenergization of the fast release relay, said path initially completed tothe stepping magnet of the first disk, a plurality of transfer relaysone for each succeeding stepping magnet for switching said circuit pathsuccessively to the stepping magnets, means for energizing the firsttransfer relay and for successively energizing each succeeding relay,means for locking each transfer relay and means for completing the saidcircuit path for each stepping magnet.

12. An annunciator system comprising a line, two relays each connectedto the line and to a source of current, one of said relays being slow torelease, both relays operating upon each grounding of the line and theslow relay holding over during short intervals between successivegroundings, an indicating unit comprising a plurality of indicatingdisks, a stepping magnet and off-normal contacts for each disk, acircuit path completed on each energization of the fast release relay,said path initially completed to the stepping magnet of the first disk,a plurality of transfer relays one for each succeeding stepping magnetfor switching said circuit path successively to the stepping magnets,means for energizing the first transfer relay through a circuitincluding the back contact of the slow release relay and the OE- normalcontacts of the first disk and its own back contact and for energizingeach succeeding relay through the back contact of the slow releaserelay, the off-ncrmal contacts of all the preceding disks in series, theoperated contacts of all the preceding transfer relays in series and itsown back contact.

13. An annunciator system comprising a line, two relays each connectedto the line and to a source of current, One of said relays being slow torelease, both relays operating upon each grounding of the line and theslow relay holding over during short intervals between successivegroundings, an indicating unit comprising a plurality of indicatingdisks, a stepping magnet and off-normal contacts for each disk, acircuit path completed on each energization of the fast release relay,said path initially completed to the stepping magnet of the first disk,a plurality of transfer relays one for each succeeding stepping magnetfor switching said circuit path successively to the stepping magnets,means for energizing the first transfer relay, and for energizing eachsucceeding relay, means for locking each transfer relay and means forcompleting the said circuit path for each stepping magnet except thefirst through the front contacts of the preceding switching relays, andthe back contact of the switching relay.

GLENN KINER.

